HIV and HSV-2 co-infection among fishermen along lake Victoria, Kenya: an application of multiple logistic model

Abstract

Background HSV-2 infection enhances the transmission and acquisition ofHIV. Identifying risk factors for HIV and HSV -2 co-infection provides the opportunity to develop health promotion programmes based on primary prevention. Objective To establish risk factors for the presence of HIV and HSV-2 Co-Infection Among Fishermen along Lake Victoria, Kenya. Methods Two-stage cluster sampling to select 168 fishermen for the structured interviews and STI testing was used. Subjects were tested for HIV, Syphilis and HSV-2 infections. in addition, the demographic and behavioural characteristics of the subjects were assessed through face to face interviews. The prevalence of HIV was tested using rapid methods and cases confirmed by ELISA while Syphilis was tested using the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) card test. HSV-2 was tested using ELISA. Fishermen with equivocal HSV-2 test result are removed from this analysis leaving a samole 126 fishermen for this project.